Would anyone know why....

[treequip]

Amazing! I posted this thread before I went out last night.I'm quite surprised that out of 198 views from professional arborists that no one has an answer.

Has nobody seen this phenomenon before?

 

Well lets look at this, 198 views from whom? you say professional arbs but in truth we have no clue how those stats are made up. Then we have to look at the knowledge base.

 

Assuming they are tree surgeons, what would your average tree surgeon know about the effects of peeling small diameter timber. Most just chuck it at the chipper and are glad to see the back of it.

 

I will hazard a guess that since the cambial area is rich in sugars your phenomenon could be something to do with the oxidation of sugars

[bluebedouin]

In that case, it will be the same reason that any wood goes silvery grey eventually if left outside. The extractables (including colour) are not UV stable so they degrade to a soluble form and are then washed off by the rain. That's why it is still coloured where protected by the clamp.

 

Alec

It wasn't left out for any great period of time,just overnight.

But,thank you for that info.When I stripped the bark they were very wet with sap,would that come under the heading of "extractable"?

 

 

 

Edit: I've just tried washing it without success.Sanding has removed some of it but it's pretty deep.

Edited July 10, 2016 by bluebedouin

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Probably because,

It's an intriguing title, but then there's a picture of a stick.

 

 

Seems like that would be 2/198 accounted for 😆

[bluebedouin]

....

I will hazard a guess that since the cambial area is rich in sugars your phenomenon could be something to do with the oxidation of sugars

 

Thank you for that.This is the type of answer I was looking for.I have no knowledge of trees or their physiology.Chemical reactions are also a mystery.I've been experimenting for a few months now & this has never shown itself before.It may be that it is peculiar to this specific type of wood.I'll go & take some pics of the tree & branches/leaves for identification as I'm still not sure what it is.

[treequip]

Thank you for that.This is the type of answer I was looking for.I have no knowledge of trees or their physiology.Chemical reactions are also a mystery.I've been experimenting for a few months now & this has never shown itself before.It may be that it is peculiar to this specific type of wood.I'll go & take some pics of the tree & branches/leaves for identification as I'm still not sure what it is.

 

You would have helped yourself with some information. First thing I would want to know is as basic as, what type of wood is it?

[bluebedouin]

....First thing I would want to know is as basic as, what type of wood is it?

I was hoping someone would recognise it from the little ridges.

 

...I'll go & take some pics of the tree & branches/leaves for identification as I'm still not sure what it is.

Okay,here's some pics.As can be seen from the last one,the bark peels off very easily.

[Mick Dempsey]

Good old goat Willow?

[peatff]

Good old goat Willow?

 

It looks like it with the bark on. It's not a favourite for stick making and usually I season sticks for about a year before I do anything with them not leave them overnight I use a hot air gun and bend them over my knee to get them straighter and use something with nice bark on so I don't strip them. Hazel, Holly and Rose Briars are my favourite.

[bluebedouin]

It looks like it with the bark on. It's not a favourite for stick making and usually I season sticks for about a year before I do anything with them not leave them overnight I use a hot air gun and bend them over my knee to get them straighter and use something with nice bark on so I don't strip them. Hazel, Holly and Rose Briars are my favourite.

Any advice will be gratefully received.As I said,I've only just started & still experimenting.

I thought it might be easier to straighten the sticks whilst they were still green.The overnight thing was just that was how long it took for that discolouration to show.

Is there a particular reason for not using willow for stickmaking?As I live near the canal & river there is an abundant supply!

[devon TWiG]

The little ridges you are on about are the dormant adventitious buds , the reason why willow and some other species seem to regenerate when lopped , I do not think it will be much use as walking sticks , and there are far better species to use such as hazel ,ash . etc .... the discolouring pointed out will most probably due to oxidisation , this is very common on fresh cut woods especially Alder and Ash ...